Untitled (rephotographed image of portraits of sorority members) c. 1930 - 1950

Editor: This is an untitled work by Martin Schweig, it is a rephotographed image of portraits of sorority members. The photographic materials give the portraits an eerie look, almost like negatives. What strikes you about the piece? Curator: I see a reproduction, not just of images, but of social structures. This rephotographing calls attention to the means of production. Consider the labor involved, the repetitive nature of image making, and the potential for mass consumption inherent in these sorority portraits. Editor: So you’re saying the piece comments on the commodification of identity? Curator: Precisely. And not just identity, but a specific, constructed identity tied to social class and gender expectations. The act of rephotographing highlights this construction. What do you make of the lack of individual expression? Editor: It's interesting to think about how these portraits, designed to show individuality, are ultimately flattened into a collective representation. Curator: Yes, the tension between individual and collective, production and consumption, is what makes this piece so compelling.